Tribalism, nationalism and racism has no place in Islam

Nationalism is a foreign concept to Islam because its purpose is to create the unity of men and women on the basis of family and tribal criteria, whereas Islam asserts that only the link of the doctrine (al ‘aqidah) can and must unite men, regardless of their color, race or national affiliation.

Islam calls for unity of the people. Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Quran:

The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy. (49:10)

Islam rejects the division based on the nationalism. The criteria that make a person better than another is only is God consciencessness. Allah says in the Quran:

“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. “(49:13)

Also, pride in ancestry is tantamount to considering oneself superior to others. This is not consonant with Islamic teachings and the principle of equality. A king’s son has no merit because he is the son of a king. Bereft of piety, the son of a king and the son of a sweeper are the same in the sight of Allah. But if a sweeper’s son is endowed with piety then he is far better than a king’s son in the sight of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

Also, Islam fights against racism and discriminations, the Prophet of Allah peace be upon Him said: “O people, your Lord is one and your father Adam is one. There is no favor of an Arab over a non arab, nor a non arabover an Arab, and neither white skin over black skin, nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness. Have I not delivered the message? “ (reported by Ahmed)

Islam hates all gathering, fighting and sacrifice in the name of nationalism. Indeed, the Prophet peace be upon Him said : “he who summons others to party-spirit [nationalism/tribalism] does not belong to us; and he who dies upholding party spirit does not belong to us.” (reported by Abu Dawud)

The Messenger of Allah peace be upon Him also said: ‘Whoever fights for a cause that is not clear, advocating tribalism, getting angry for the sake of tribalism, then he has died a death of Jahiliyyah.”

Thus, there is no doubt that appealing to nationalism calls for party-spirit! And it’s a call to get angry at this partisan group and to fight for it. Also, there is no doubt that calling for nationalism is a call to transgression, pride and arrogance.Thus, nationalism is not a way of life that has been divinely revealed. On the contrary, it is an ideology of the Days pre-Islamic ignorance (Jahiliyah).

Is nationality a criteria for political and religious power in Islam ?

Unfortunately nowadays, some partisans of the nationalism among the Muslims, want justify their superiority and their control of the Islamic affairs, other the rest of other Muslims by quoting an old arabic proverb: “The people of Mecca are the best in knowledge about their reefs (meaning their affairs)”

This is an expression used commonly in the Arabic language. This it is not a verse revealed in the Holy Quran or an authentic hadith reported from our Beloved Prophet peace be upon Him. Using a popular Arabic expression, firstly shows the level of ignorance and the degree of manipulation of these leaders, and secondly, an Arabic expression can never be used to justify a religious judgment!

Indeed, all Muslims know that our Beloved Messenger, peace be upon Him, had emigrated from the city of Mecca to Yathrib that he recalled al Madinah. If we follow the way of thinking of this nationalists, the inhabitants of al Madinah had to reject the Prophet (peace be upon Him) because he was from another country and another tribe! What can we say about Ali bin Abi Talib the 3rd caliph of Islam who build the capital of the Islam empire in Kufa (Irak), or what can we said about Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, the maternal uncle of the Prophet pbuh who lead a delegation of Muslims until China!

On the contrary, Islam has always called for integration of the new comer to their new living place. This is the practice of the Prophet pbuh when he fraternized between the Muhajireen (Muslim migrants coming from Mecca) and the Ansars (Muslim inhabitants of Medina).

To conclude, be happy dear Muslim that you belong to one an unique nation which is the Nation of Islam, Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Quran: